Tissue engineering in the agri-food industry: current status, socio-economic overview and regulatory compliance.

The growing global demand for sustainable and safe food is a major challenge that increases the need for advanced alternatives such as tissue engineering (TE). TE offers promising solutions by improving yields, nutritional value and resilience of crops while also producing cultivated meat that reduces the environmental impact of livestock farming. The market potential for TE in meat production is considerable, and significant growth is expected.

Genome editing in food and agriculture: from regulations to consumer perspectives.

Genome editing (GE) has emerged as a technology that could revolutionize food and agricultural production. While its advent has evoked enthusiasm for a more sustainable food system, there exists heterogeneity in regulations and public opinions regarding the technology. This review discusses evidence on the implications of government regulations on GE, and perceptions of genome-edited (GEd) food and related regulations.

Sensory attributes of fine flavor cocoa beans and chocolate: A systematic literature review.

Fine flavor cocoa (FFC) is known for its unique flavor and aroma characteristics, which vary by region. However, a comprehensive overview of the common sensory attributes used to describe FFC beans and chocolate is lacking. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to analyze existing literature and identify the most commonly used sensory attributes to describe FFC beans and chocolate.

Belgian dietitians' knowledge, perceptions and willingness-to-recommend of genetically modified food and organisms.

Background: Dietitians play a critical role in the public's relationship with food and are often overlooked as an important stakeholder group in the general debate about sustainable food. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are one type of modern food source that could contribute to a more sustainable food system. This case study is the first to examine the knowledge, perception and willingness-to-recommend (WTR) genetically modified (GM) foods by dietitians in Europe.

Market intelligence for guiding crop improvement: A systematic review of stakeholder preference studies in the rice sector in the Global South and beyond.

Improvement of crop varieties can be a powerful strategy for addressing food, nutrition, and climate challenges in the Global South if it is guided by market intelligence. We conducted a systematic literature review of stakeholder preference studies that aim at guiding crop improvement in rice, the Global South's most important staple food. We review behavioral indicators such as purchase intention, willingness to pay, acceptance, probability of adoption, and preference.

European stakeholders' perspectives on implementation potential of precision weed control: the case of autonomous vehicles with laser treatment.

Weed control is a basic agricultural practice, typically achieved through herbicides and mechanical weeders. Because of the negative environmental impacts of these tools, alternative solutions are being developed and adopted worldwide. Following recent technical developments, an autonomous laser-based weeding system (ALWS) now offers a possible solution for sustainable weed control.

Physico-Chemical Property, Sensory Profile and Consumer Acceptability of Water Buffalo ( L.) Chocolate Milk Using Alkalized and Natural Cocoa Powder.

Due to its nutritional quality and palatability, chocolate milk beverages are gaining popularity globally. Alkalized cocoa powder is mostly used in its production since it provides for more intense color and dispersibility, but it has a negative effect on the phytochemical content of cocoa powder. Studies have suggested that water buffalo milk is superior to other milk due to its higher protein content and superior emulsion properties.

Public Knowledge, Perceptions, and Behavioral Intention Regarding Medical Cannabis in Belgium.

Growing evidence on medical cannabis has moved its legislation forward in various countries, which has increased research on stakeholder reactions. While various studies looked at experts and users, research on public perceptions is scarce. This study aims to (1) examine the relationships between knowledge, perceptions, and behavioral intention toward medical cannabis, and (2) identify and profile key segments within the general public.

Public acceptance and stakeholder views of gene edited foods: a global overview.

The increasing popularity of gene editing in plants has prompted research on stakeholder views. Gene edited foods are often more accepted than genetically modified foods, though differences occur within target groups, regions, and products. Nevertheless, marketing challenges related to a lack of familiarity with the technology, labeling, and risk perception remain.

The future of CRISPR gene editing according to plant scientists.

This study surveyed 669 plant scientists globally to elicit how (which outcomes of gene editing), where (which continent) and what (which crops) are most likely to benefit from CRISPR research and if there is a consensus about specific barriers to commercial adoption in agriculture. Further, we disaggregated public and private plant scientists to see if there was heterogeneity in their views of the future of CRISPR research. Our findings suggest that maize and soybeans are anticipated to benefit the most from CRISPR technology with fungus and virus resistance the most common vehicle for its implementation.

Life cycle cost analysis of agri-food products: A systematic review.

Because of the increasing challenges the global food system is facing on a social, economic and environmental level, and the need to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, agri-food systems are increasingly required to become more sustainable. Life cycle tools, such as a life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCC) to evaluate the environmental and economic performance respectively, play an important role in sustainability research. Contrary to LCA, the LCC methodology is not standardized for agri-food products.

Food safety-related perspectives and practices of consumers and vendors in Ethiopia: A scoping review.

Despite being one of the first African countries to prioritize food safety, foodborne diseases are of acute concern in Ethiopia. This review aims to understand food safety-related perspectives and practices among consumers and food vendors in Ethiopia to identify motivations, beliefs, and values that shape and/or drive their practices. A well-defined search and review identified 116 relevant articles.

COVID-19 Safety Measures in the Food Service Sector: Consumers' Attitudes and Transparency Perceptions at Three Different Stages of the Pandemic.

The food service sector was among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine consumers' attitudes towards and transparency perceptions of COVID-19-related safety measures and to identify determinants of consumers' intentions and behaviour regarding visiting restaurants and bars once reopened. By also surveying food service businesses, this study allows for comparison between both target groups.

From Golden Rice to Golden Diets: How to turn its recent approval into practice.

Following its approval in the Philippines in July 2021, provitamin A-rich "Golden Rice" is set to become the worlds' first commercialized genetically modified crop with direct consumer benefits. Despite supplementation and fortification programs, the burden of micronutrient deficiencies remains high. For Golden Rice to be successful in reducing vitamin A deficiency, it needs to be taken up by food systems and integrated into consumer diets.

Willingness to Pay for Food Labelling Schemes in Vietnam: A Choice Experiment on Water Spinach.

The growing concern for food safety and quality motivates governments and private sectors to improve consumers' confidence in food systems, such as through adopting certifications and traceability systems. The recent emergence of diverse food labelling schemes and the turbulence in food systems in emerging countries have sparked questions about consumers' valuation of such labels. Nonetheless, little is known on how the familiarity with, trust in and knowledge of these food labelling schemes affect consumers' willingness to pay for labelling schemes in emerging market contexts.

Corrigendum: Environmentally Sustainable Food Consumption: A Review and Research Agenda From a Goal-Directed Perspective.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.

Multiplying the efficiency and impact of biofortification through metabolic engineering.

Ending all forms of hunger by 2030, as set forward in the UN-Sustainable Development Goal 2 (UN-SDG2), is a daunting but essential task, given the limited timeline ahead and the negative global health and socio-economic impact of hunger. Malnutrition or hidden hunger due to micronutrient deficiencies affects about one third of the world population and severely jeopardizes economic development. Staple crop biofortification through gene stacking, using a rational combination of conventional breeding and metabolic engineering strategies, should enable a leap forward within the coming decade.

Labeling Nutrition-Sensitive Food Chains: A Consumer Preference Analysis of Milk Products.

While nutrition-sensitive value-chain approaches are strongly advocated, studies on consumer preferences for such interventions are lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by examining a nutrition-sensitive chain labeling scheme, using the Ugandan dairy sector as a case. A survey was conducted among 250 consumers, primarily eliciting perceptions of the importance of a nutrition-sensitive chain label compared to nutrition claims/facts.

Environmentally Sustainable Food Consumption: A Review and Research Agenda From a Goal-Directed Perspective.

The challenge of convincing people to change their eating habits toward more environmentally sustainable food consumption (ESFC) patterns is becoming increasingly pressing. Food preferences, choices and eating habits are notoriously hard to change as they are a central aspect of people's lifestyles and their socio-cultural environment. Many people already hold positive attitudes toward sustainable food, but the notable gap between favorable attitudes and actual purchase and consumption of more sustainable food products remains to be bridged.

The impact of calorie and physical activity labelling on consumer's emo-sensory perceptions and food choices.

Providing labelling information is one of the strategies used to help consumers make healthier choices. However, although the type of information has the potential to assist consumers, it is important to evaluate their sensory and emotional perceptions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different labelling information on consumers' sensory and emotional perceptions and their choices, for three different products (potato chips, juice and yogurt).

What Do We Know About Chain Actors' Evaluation of New Food Technologies? A Systematic Review of Consumer and Farmer Studies.

New food technologies, such as genetic modification, food fortification, and processing technologies, are of growing interest for future food security and safety. For ensuring successful implementation of such technologies, consumers and other food supply chain actors should embrace them. We present a systematic review to identify and compare key factors of supply chain actors' evaluation of new food technologies.

Clinical determination of folates: recent analytical strategies and challenges.

Since the introduction of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in clinical laboratories, folate analysis has shifted from microbiological or protein-binding assays to chromatographic methods. Now, it is possible to sensitively and selectively determine several folate species in clinical samples where only a total folate content could be quantified using a microbiological or a binding assay. Although several chromatographic methods have been developed, validated, and published, interlaboratory variability limits the comparability of the results.